The following are those who were instrumental
in forming the first churches in Ardrossan: - Mr. and Mrs. S. Bready, Mr.
and Mrs.William Carbe, Mr. and Mrs. C. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. MacNaughton,
Mr. and Mrs. E. Thomlinson, Mr. A. Matheson, Mr. and Mrs. Angus Matheson,
Mr. and Mrs. A. Horton, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wardrop, Miss Edmiston, Mr.
and Mrs. R. Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. C. W.Parker, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Storms,
Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Attewell, Mr.and Mrs. F. Higley, Mrs. Hughes, Sr., Mr.
and Mrs. Hamm, Mr.and Mrs. George Clapp, Mr. and Mrs. Angus McKinnon, Mrs.
Allen McKinnon, Mr. and Mrs. H. Lackey, Mr. and Mrs. George Lackey,
Mr. and Mrs. John Wardrop, Mr. J. Reith, Mrs. Heacock and Sons.The first
worship service in our district was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Clyde W. Parker. Agnes Lackey Peck can remember that Rev. Adamson came
out and dedicated their home for worship in 1900. Services were held in
neighboring homes too, until a church could be built. A lot of hard work
was required before organized bees made that a reality.

Hamilton Lackey of Killam writes:

"Just going away back - I can remember my first
church service in Canada. It was in the little home of Bella and Clyde.
Such a lovely day in the fall. Mr. Sparling was the student.
I remember I sat beside Bella during the service. That would be say
72 years ago.

I don't remember just too much about the building
of the Presbyterian Church. I remember Pa asking Mr. Howatson if
he would go out and cut logs. This was January I think, and Mr. Howatson
said "If it's a coarse day will you go?, and Pa said "Yes, it will have
to be a very coarse day if we don't". I think the men slept outside
in the snow.

Of the student
ministers my favorite was Mr. Wallis. He had a little pony and he
gave me his saddle when he left. Mr. Hay was another of the students."
(H. R. Lackey, died June 16, 1972)

The first Presbyterian Church was erected
in 1901 on the S.W. corner of section 13,53,22 W4th. It was used
also for school purposes and became the centre of what was called the Lackey
Settlement. Rev. Forbes, who was stationed at Fort Saskatchewan,
was the first minister. The Agnes Forbes Lodge, a home for elderly
ladies, was named in honor of Mrs. Forbes. Rev. Beet, an elderly
Scotsman, also preached in that church. The early officials were
Mr. Hamilton Lackey, Sr., Mr. Stewart Bready and Mr. George Lackey.

A METHODIST Church
was built in 1902 on the N.E. corner of section 12-53-22 W4th, one mile
east of the Presbyterian Church. It and a cemetery beside it were
called Fairmount. Rev. Robert Findlay, who was Clover Bar's
Minister was the first to preach in this new church. Students who
followed were Mr. Joe Woodsworth, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Kettles and Mr. Laidman.
Rev. Aldridge and Rev. Howard came from the Fort for special
services.
Mr. J. M. Fawcett was here from 1907 - 1909. He lived with the
Rileys. His appointments were Fairmount, Hillsdale, Cooper, Brookville
and Garden. Taken from his interesting diary, estimates in August
1908 for the yearly budget were Fairmount $110.00, Hillsdale $100.00, Brookville
$25.00 and Garden $15.00.

Mr. George Clapp
organized the first Sunday School and was its Superintendent. Cora
Vance was secretary. The church officials were Mr. C. W. Parker,
Mr. George Clapp, Mr. C. W. Storms, Mrs. George Clapp, Mr. Charles
Riley, and Mrs. C. W. Parker was representative.
Ardrossan came into being in 1908 and in 1909 the railroad was constructed.
To provide worship facilities for the men working on the railroad Mr. Fawcett
pitched a tent on the townsite.
On February 17, 1909, a debate "Resolved that the liquor traffic has
been and will be more injurious than war", was held. Such a subject
clearly indicated the calibre of our pioneer church members. On the
affirmative side were Elizabeth Lackey and Jack Fawcett, and Mrs.
Beggs and Rev. W. Hamilton defended the negative viewpoint.
The affirmative debaters won by one point. judges were Clyde Parker,
Clyde Storms and Hamilton Lackey.
Although Jack Fawcett assumed responsibilities eleswhere he retained
a keen interest in the people of Ardrossan, especially in one of its girls,
who with her folks had moved to Edmonton. Retus Clapp had become
his sweetheart. Retus and Jack completely dedicated their lives to
the glory of God.

Mr. D. P. Cameron
took charge of the field in the summer of 1909. Elizabeth Lackey,
daughter of Hamilton Lackey, Sr., became his bride. She devoted
her special talents to helping Duncan in his ministry.

Both churches
were moved to Ardrossan in 1910. Soon afterwards a bush fire engulfed
the Methodist Church. Before the year was out a new church replaced
it. Rev. Millar held the opening service. His sermon
was entitled "The people had a mind to work." Hearing of the loss of the
church Rev. Sparling, who by then had become a missionary in China,
sent $5.00 as a token of his concern for this faithful congregation.

Before the Presbyterian
Church was taken to Ardrossan ', lightning struck it, during a severe storm.
Mr. Bready caught sight of the danger in time to summon help and save it
from burning.

Its new site
was where Mr. and Mrs. Alex Lawrence now live. A new name "Knox"
was given to it. A manse was built east of the church. During
the same year Rev. Alexander Forbes went to a mission field at Grand
Prairie and the Partridge Hill Presbyterian congregation joined Ardrossan.
Rev. W. J. Allan was their minister.

Rev. and Mrs.
Hamilton were the first occupants of the manse. Successors were:
Rev. and Mrs. Allan, Rev. and Mrs. McLellan, Rev. and Mrs. Smith, Rev.
and Mrs. Boyd, Rev. and Mrs. Sneddon, Rev. and Mrs. Langille and Rev. and
Mrs. Skinner.

We remain indebted
to Rev. Boyd for his splendid work with the young people. The
accompanying slate of officers reminds us of his unselfish endeavors.

In 1915 an addition
was built to the Methodist Church to serve as a home for the student ministers.
Mr. McCubbin helped and was its first occupant. During 1916 he enlisted
and Mr. Stainton replaced him. While here Mr. Stainton was assured
of the affection of Irene Hackett, the Baker School teacher. The
Staintons were very loyal to their Master.

Other students
were Mr. Geeson, Mr. Marshal, Mr. McLeary, Mr. Sid Bainbridge, Mr. Kemp
and Mr. Hargraves. Prior to church union our two churches had already
united. Following it Mr. Chappel, Mr. Harback, Rev. Upton and
Rev. Brunton were here.

Rev. Alex
Stewart who was retired, gave unstintingly of his talents that had been
enriched by many years of devotion. When he could no longer serve
he called upon Robert McLaren, an enthusiastic young student, who organized
girls and boys camps in 1937. His zeal and fellowship meant a great
deal to our young people. After leaving the Alberta Conference Mr.
McLaren went to B.C. and founded the Christian Leadership School at Naramata.
Supplying for Mr, McLaren during the winter months were Mr. Johnson, Mr.
Armstrong and Mr. Reikie. We are very grateful to "Bob" for this
story:

Bob McLaren's Story

It is with real
happy memories that I think of my time at Ardrossan.

I went there
on my first field as a student for two months. I arrived on the first of
July, when I was to go with the congregation on a picnic to Elk Island
Park. I remember standing at the pump at Storms' farm, where I met
the first member from the congregation, Mr. Storms Sr. I felt
a bit stupid, inexperienced and not very worthy to be even a student minister,
but he, in his own quiet, gracious way, made me feel real and worthwhile.
He made me feel accepted and soon I could accept myself for what I was,
and everyone else too. I have been accepting and growing ever since.
I will always be grateful for Mr. Storms' friendship.

I preached that summer and every
Sunday through the fall. I marvel now, as I look back, at how little
I gave those people, but in spite of that they were so warm and gracious
and they always made me feel taller when I went back to my work at college.
This is true of other students that went to Ardrossan. No wonder
Mr. Stewart could say, and did on many occasions, that those people at
Ardrossan were the "very salt of the earth".

We enjoyed the
camping and on one occasion, to humiliate Mrs. Mackay and Mrs. Dowling,
on their excellent pie, we gave permission to all the boys to take their
hatchets and their hunting knives to the table in order to penetrate that
awful crust! I am not sure that I was ever forgiven for that suggestion.

A lot has happened
to us. Allen Searcy and I were married at Pouce Coupe and from there
went together to Toronto, where she took a course as a deaconess and I
took a B.D. at Emmanual College. I then served two years at Castor,
Alberta, before becoming a Field Secretary for Youth Work in B.C., doing
some work in Alberta.

In 1947 we launched
a Christian Leadership Training School at Naramata in the Okanagan near
Penticton, B.C., and we worked there for 17 years before leaving.

We took a year
out to get some refueling and went to New York. Most of our experience
was in Union Theological Seminary but we tried to get the feel and the
meaning of the church in a changing world, particularly in a vast centre
like New York, as well as in Washington and Boston. We even got as
far south as Florida and Cape Kennedy. Since then we went to Renfrew
United Church in Vancouver for six years. It is an East end church,
with all its inner-city problems.

I ran as an alderman
for the City unsuccessfully but found it an excellent experience tnd was
sorry not to remain in the city to run again. This past summer we
moved to a residential area of Victoria in a very beautiful location called
Cadboro Bay. We have just started our Ministry here.

We had four children:
- Betty, who is married and is now Mrs. Richards, and lives at Trail; Bobby,
who is a Linesman with the NHL: Eddie, who was 17 when he was killed in
an industrial accident in Vancouver shortly after we moved from New York;
Kenny, who is now 16, going to high school and living with us.

Although Ardrossan
and its people were our first contact as we began our ministry, they remain
ever new and fresh and meaningful after all these years. There is
something about friendship that will grow deeper and more meaningful through
the years. The people from Ardrossan, particularly the church community
and fellowship, have had a very large influence on my life and this influence
continues.

From 1938 - 1942
students Carr, Harvey Johnson, Vogel, Mathams, Ted Kolber and George Spady
gained experience in church leadership. Rev. George Spady has
now unselfishly and effectively taken charge of Bissell Centre.

Ardrossan joined
the Clover Bar Charge in 1942. Rev. Kidd of Clover Bar conducted
only a few services. His health had failed him.

Dr. Scott came the same
year and stayed until 1946.

In 1943, the
home of Mr. Foster of Bremner was bought, to be used as a manse. We are
fortunate to have Dr. Scott's account of his ministry.

Rev. John
Wing, on this field from 1953 - 1958, began the Scout movement in Ardrossan.

Rev. Harold
Ricker kindly provided us with the church history for the years 1958 -
1965 while he was minister. Our present minister, Rev. Douglas Berry,
succeeded him.

Our sincerest
thanks are extended not only to our ministers, but also to their wives,
who contributed so graciously to the work of our church.

We remember
with extreme gratitude our devoted pianists and organists. With them
we associate all of our fair sex who by their angelic songs - songs with
such wonderful and beautiful harmony have appealed to the best within us,
have so inspired us and touched our hearts.

We owe a very
great deal to the ladies' groups. They have worked extrcmly hard
in helping to finance the church and in supporting and promoting its ideals.
How can we thank them enough? We take pleasure in paying tribute to Mrs.
Guest, who for many years kept our church clean.

Profound gratitude
must be expressed to all who have, through supreme sacrifice and loyality
maintained the Christian Education and Sunday School work.

We think too
of the church officials who have felt the responsibilities of stewardship
and have given freely of their time and ability.

May God bless
all who through the years have been steadfast and true to the faith of
our fathers.

My first service
at Ardrossan was, I believe, in the summer of 1911. Rev. J.
M. Millar, D.D., of Edmonton was expected to take the services at the three
points served by the Presbyterian Church but was unable to go, and he asked
me if I could substitute for him. I had recently arrived home from
Queen's University, where I had just completed my third year in Arts.
I agreed to go, and on Sunday morning waited at Whyte Avenue for the street
car to take me to the station on the north side. After a considerable
wait it dawned on me that there were no Sunday morning street cars.
I had no alternative but to run from Whyte Avenue to Saskatchewan Drive,
down the steps, then across the bridge and up the long stretch of nearly
200 steps, then on the level again to the station. I had no time
to spare. The train was just pulling out. I was still panting
for breath when the train stopped at Ardrossan, where I was met by Mr.
Bready.

He looked after
me for the day, driving me in his buckboard to the three services, which
were held if I remember correctly, at Agricola, Partridge Hill and Ardrossan.

In 1942, when
the Ardrossan charge was added to the Clover Bar, Bremner and Salisbury
points, I was invited to become the minister of the combined congregations.
The Manse was at first at Clover Bar, but soon the Bremner Manse was purchased.
Under war time regulations the amount of gasoline permitted was greatly
limited, but after a time I was allowed more, which made more week-day
work possible, and soon I was meeting more than 125 young folk each week
in various groups. As an old Lacrosse player, I had a set of Lacrosse
sticks given me by the Canadian Lacrosse Association and I introduced this
game to my Trail Rangers and other groups.

The Fort Saskatchewan
United Church joined with us in our boys and girls camps at Cooking Lake,
where we used largely our local young people as leaders with limited help
from the Provincial Religious Education leaders, and from student ministers.

In those days
Clover Bar was noted for its annual dinners to which Edmonton folk came
in large numbers. Bremner added pews and improved its lower hall,
and added a memorial plaque, Salisbury was considering a sanctuary more
easy to heat and Ardrossan, still a small point, had to wait quite a few
years before the present boom began.

Of my family,
Gordon and Ellen live in Toronto, and Janet is in Barrhead, Alberta.
There are twelve grandchildren and one greatgranddaughter.

Since I "retired"
in 1957, 1 have served in Dominion Church Ottawa for four years, and in
Highlands Church Edmonton for ten years, with two ministries in Ottawa,
and three in Edmonton. In a few weeks I will be celebrating my
57th anniversary since ordination. My wife Una's training both in
Theology and in Religious Education, and as an experienced teacher made
her a most valuable assistant in all our work. Mrs. Scott passed
away in 1952, at Blackie, Alberta, when I was the Minister there.

In the earlier years of the
development of the communities of Ardrossan, Bremner and Clover Bar
(the areas for which I had a ministry) the Church played a very vital role.
I think it is safe to say that the majority of the people looked to the
Church, not only for spiritual comfort and guidance, but as a place to
go and meet with their neighbors. Many were drawn into the fellowship
of the Church because it was a center of fellowship.

Ardrossan was
not always part of the Clover Bar Charge, having come in shortly before
I came to be the minister in 1946. But when I came there were four
well established congregations (Salisbury on Highway 14 being the other).
There were four of everything;'four services each Sunday, four Sunday schools,
four Women's Associations, four C.G.I.T. groups, four Explorer groups,
three Trail Ranger groups (which I led each week), four annual meetings,
four annual fowl suppers, four annual Christmas programs to attend.
I often felt as though I should have been four people. However, I
was comparatively young, and enjoyed the people, young and old, and all
the activity. I believe at the time that these activities did serve
a need in the lives of both the young and old and I was proud to be the
minister.

Many changes
in the structure of the field took place while I was there, as the highways
began to change and the new oil and chemical industries began to build.
But the great changes were to take place after I left in 1953 as Ardrossan
and Salisbury began to grow and the population of Clover Bar was depleted
as big industry bought up the farms.

Bremner was our
first home following World War II and although the manse left much to be
desired as to warmth at first, the spacious front rooms, the lawns and
gardens attracted us greatly. That is until we tried to maintain
the gardens which had been so beautifully laid out by the Fosters' who
had built it up when they ran the Bremner store. Besides a sunken
garden I believe there were 14 rock gardens containing every kind of plant
imaginable. We worked faithfully and cheerfully each year to the
end of June to get the gardens in shape for the annual lawn party of the
four W.A.'s. But then holidays and camps came and by the end of August
chickweed had taken over and we lost heart.

Bremner was also
our home when we adopted our two girls, Carol and Gail. Before we
got Carol we had not informed anyone that we had made application for a
baby. So when I arrived at the 1947 Annual Fowl Supper at Clover
Bar minus my wife, Zeke Keith, sitting next to me inquired if Mrs. Johnson
were not coming. I quietly informed him that Mrs. Johnson was looking
after our new baby. The look of surprise on his face was something
to see. When I convinced him that we had just brought home a three-week
old baby girl in the afternoon, he had a delightful evening spreading the
news.

It was at the
conclusion of the service at Bremner when our younger girl Gail was baptized
and Dean Elson of St. Stephen's College was our guest speaker for the day.
The Dein was pronouncing the benediction in suitably reverent tones, "Now
unto him who is able to keep you from falling. . ." At that precise moment
there was a resounding crash, for Pat McCalla, who had been standing quietly
on the pew beside her father, Fred, had edged too close to the edge of
the pew with the disastrous result that she had fallen flat on the floor.

There are many
memories of our associations with the Ardrossan people. I cannot
but think of the courage of the men of the community (with a bit of prodding
from their wives) when they took on the serving of those delicious beef
suppers. What roasts they were and what a sight were the men decked
out in their chefs' hats and aprons.

But the crowning
sight of all (and the most courageous) was the fashion shows staged in
the community hall by the same men. Hardly a man in the community
failed to parade up and down the reviewing stand with some ridicuous feminine
costume, well-padded in the proper places. However, the audience
out in front missed a performance I can still see in my mind's eye of George
Ottewell ,and Mel Olson waiting their turn to appear. George, property
decked out in feminine hat and tresses and long flowing gown, had hitched
the gown up sufficiently to take out his pipe and a box of matches.
Lighting a match on the seat of his trousers he was puffing away on his
pipe and nonchalantly discussing the price of hogs. No one would
have guessed that in a few minutes they were to appear in review at the
greatest show on earth.

CLOVER BAR PASTORAL CHARGE by Harold B. Ricker

I was called
to the Clover Bar Pastoral Charge in 1958 and served it until 1965.
It has been since its beginnings around 1900, an active rural field with
the distinction of always being financially self-supporting. It is located
in a very fertile agricultural area that extends mainly east and south
from the outskirts of Edmonton.

During my ministry
there were four separate districts with Bremner and Clover Bar uniting
for services of worship on a monthly alternating basis, and thus with Salisbury
and Ardrossan, making three preaching appointments.

From the early
forties, the manse was located at the Bremner corner on Highway 16.
This property, consisting of nearly an acre, had been made a beauty spot
by its original owner, a former English gardener. He had planted
good nursery stock, landscaped it well, and cared for it like a park.

Such care, however,
became quite impossible after it was purchased by the church, though considerable
time was given to it.

We decided that
in attempt should be made to restore it, in part at least, to its original
condition. A work bee was organized; twenty men turned out bringing
with them all manner of tools and equipment for the purpose. Such
a transforming piece of work was done that it give encouragement to carry
it on for the next six years, until the property was taken over by the
Government for road development. The manse was sold in 1964 and moved
seventeen miles to josepbburg, at which time an almost new church home
was purchased in Sherwood Park.

Early in 1959
it was decided that the little church at Salisbury was wholly inadequate
to meet the needs of the district so a new church was planned and built,
with the official opening taking place on October 25th of that year.
In 1964 this church had to be moved because of major road changes, and
was eventually located on a good site in the northwest corner of Sherwood
Park, where it now ministers to in urban as well as a rural congregation.

The Ardrossan
Church was also found to be too small, especially for the many children
who were coming to the Church School. After considerable discussion
tnd planning it was decided to erect a new church, with the understanding
that considerable labour would be donated by men of the congregation.

The response
was most favourable and the building was completed and officially opened
on November 10, 1960. Memorial pews given by members of the congregation
about a year before the church was built, were used in the new building.

It is also interesting
to note that the membership of the Church School was further expanded when
the four school drivers volunteered their time and buses to bring in children
from outlying areas. This carried on for several years. An
active choir was also organized, which helped a great deal in the Sunday
worship services.

Besides the need
for these two churches in their respective districts, there were also the
future needs of the pastoral charge as a whole, as it was believed that
the properties at Bremner and CloverBar would,in the not too distant future,
be taken over for road expansion. Thus, Salisbury and Ardrossan would become
the two focal pointsof the charge. By 1965 over 80% of this total
indebtedness on the new churches had been paid.

During the years
from 1958 to 1965, 347 children and adults received baptism, which in a
small way indicates something of the potential of this church area.

The hand of change
was just beginning to make itself felt in these years as we witnessed the
initial stages of new road constructions, new industrial plants springing
up, small acreages appearing over a wide area, and with it all the inevitable
shift of population. If one could compare an aerial picture taken
in 1958 with one in 1972, the many differences noted would be almost beyond
imagination.

With all the
many and marked changes that have come, and will come in the future, may
the uplifting and steadying influence of the church go forward to ever
greater achievements in your midst, and the vision, faith and sacrificial
labors of the pioneers be remembered and maintained.

REV. DOUGLAS L. BERRY

When we were
children one of our favorite toys was the kaleidoscope in which bits of
colored glass were reflected to form ever changing patterns. For
the past few years the Berry's have been a part of the ever changing pattern
of the church and community life reflected in these pages. As minister
of the Ardrossan Church it his been our privilege to share the joys and
sorrows that make up the history of an area which in times past has seen
buildings and ministers come and go, but his remained constant in service
to the people of the surrounding districts since the turn of the century.

In our time here
we have seen many changes. The Bremner church was closed to make
way for an interchange in 1967, while the 70th Anniversary of the Clover
Bar Church in 1969 with combined choirs, double piano and organ and a full
congregation marked the end of the Bremner-Clover Bar services. On
the positive side 1969 was the year the mortgages were burned on the Ardrossan
and Salisbury churches ten years after their construction.

In 1970 the Moderator,
Dr. R. B. McClure, and Lieut.-Gov. Dr. J. W. Grint MacEwan officially opened
Clover Bar Pioneer Court, probably the largest social service project ever
developed and financed by a single Pastoral Charge of the United Church
of Canada. Funds from the Bremner-Clover Bar church sale have helped
in developing new programs in the expanding Ardrossan and Salisbury areas,
and the future of the Clover Bar Charge looks promising indeed.

As a family we
have enjoyed being associated with many social and recreational events
in Ardrossan and its environs, as part of the passing parade of this living
historical record of the community and the citizens who have given it the
breath of life.

ARDROSSAN UNITED CHURCH CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 1970-72
by Mrs. Helen Simonson

Ardrossan United
Church throughout its long history has sponsored many Church-centred children's
and youth groups. Continuing in this tradition, in the fall of 1970, Sunday
School, C.G.I.T., Explorers, Playschool and Pliyschool Mothers programs
continued to operate. Hi C, Tyros and Messengers were organized.
All groups had dedicated leaders who provided challenging and interesting
programs. The mid-week groups met on Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8:00.
This new format met with enthusiastic response resulting in high attendance
on Tuesday nights.
In 1971, a Cub and Scout program was organized to replace the Tyro
program. Unfortunately, there was no Hi C program in '71.

Vacation Schools
were held in August of both summers. The second year, the Ardrossan
and Salisbury schools were coordinated. Children from both churches
were encouraged to attend the one week session at each church. Special
activities included horse-back riding, swimming, pot shows, penny carnivals,
sharing projects, and closing family programs.

Special events
during these two years were combined mid-week and Sunday School Concerts
at Christmas, Children's shows, an Explorer rally for 100 girls from six
churches, Mother and Daughter banquet, parties, family nights, and a leadership
training event for Playschool leaders.

The congregation
of Ardrossan United Church is attempting to uphold the work of Christ with
imagination, willingness and creativity. The program of the church contains
many worthwhile elements with which I'm pleased to have been associated.

ARDROSSAN CHURCH LADIES by Mary L. Rice

I would like
to tell a little about the work of the women in our church.

In 1906 the women
of the Presbyterian Church formed a W.M.S. with Mrs. W. C. Wirdrop as president.
She continued in that capacity until 1931. This little band of women
called themselves the Willing Workers and they worked faithfully for their
church.

About 1916 a
Y.W.M.S. was formed under the leadership of the Minister's wife, Mrs. Langille.
It was named the "Alice Langille Y.W.M.S."

The Methodists
too had a very active Ladies Aid, although we aren't sure of the date of
its origin. They held strawberry socials, suppers, concerts and bazaars.
In those days the churches were the meeting place for fellowship.
After union took place a new W. A. was formed. The meeting took
place at the home of the late Mrs. C. W. Parker on April 9, 1928.
(This was the wedding anniversary of the late Myrtle and Dick Mackay.)
Mrs. Parker became the first president and named the group "United
Workers". Our objective was to help our church spiritually, socially
and financially. These were depression years and money was scarce.
This little group of women was the backbone of the church. One of
the first things we did to make money was make quilts. We sold them
for $5.00 each. We put on a play called "Strictly Business". It was
the story of a Ladies Aid in the country church. It was quite humorous.
Many of the things discussed were far from having anything to do with a
church.

In those days
when we put on a supper the men would make temporary tables in the church.
After the meal, these were taken down and a concert would follow.
We took our own dishes then and cutlery, as well as all the baking.
After it was all over we washed the dishes in tubs, in water brought from
home.

One of our first
purchases was a piano for the church. It cost $350.00. Mrs. Hutchison,
Sr., lent us the money and we reimbursed her whenever we could. We
have an organ now but the piano is still in use.
When Rev. Upton was our minister here, Mrs. Upton was choir leader
at Norwood United Church. She brought out her singers one evening
and put on a concert to help pay for the piano.

After the community
hall was made in 1948 we had our banquets and suppers there, also our Christmas
concerts.
Our new church was opened in 1960. We have a well equipped kitchen
now. Clover Bar Church gave us some cupboards and tables (for these
we are very grateful) when they had to close on account of the highway.
We had twenty tables that the men had made, so now we feel quite adequate.

Bremner gave
us their piano. It is used in the little church for Sunday School
and youth groups. We are indeed very thankful to the Bremner people
for this.

A few years ago
some of our members compiled a cookbook and had it printed. It was
hard work but it paid off well. In 1970 we had a permanent finish put on
our basement floor. It is a form of plastic and is very decorative.
It cost $1,500.00. So, you see, we have to keep on working.

In January 1962
the W.A.'s and W.M.S.'s across Canida amalgamated to form the United Church
Women. This is our purpose: "To unite all the women of the congretation,
for the total mission of the church and to provide a medium through which
they may express their loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian
Witness, Study, Fellowship and Service".

We still carry
on the same way, having been an affiliated society. Besides helping
our local groups we give to missions and various other worthy causes.

As I write this
it is nice to think of all the dedicated Christian women down through the
years, who gave so freely of themselves. In closing I humbly say,
"Thank God for them".